Air circulating attachment for refrigerator cars



Dec. 26, 1939. w. A. CONWELL 2,184,488

AIR CIRCULATING ATTACHIIENT FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed Dec. 3, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor W15 Com Me A iiorneys 4 Dec. 26, 1939. w, CQNWELL 2,184,488

AIR CIRCULA'I'ING ATTACHMENT FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed D86. 3, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor A fio neys 1939. w. A. CONWELL 2,184,488

AIR CIRCULATING ATTACH KENT FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed Dec. 3, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 0. Inventor Wfl C0/7/4/e// I Dec. 26, 1939. w. A. CONWELL AIR GIRCULATING ATTACHMENT FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed Da e. 5, 1938 4 Sheets-Shet 4 Inventor By 2mm v Attomggs Patented Dec. 26, 1939 I William M am Cincinnati, obit} Application December a, 1938, Serial No. 243,303"

The present invention relates to improvements inrefrigerator cars and has for its primary object to provide an air circulating apparatus for circulating the air from the ice bunker of the car tothe storage compartment thereof.

More specifically, the invention comprises an attachment adapted to be driven by the wheels of the car for operating an air circulating fan moimted in the partition between the ice bunker and the storage compartment of the car.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this characten arranged for mounting in operative engagement with the wheels of the car while the car is moving and also embody ng means for attaching an electric motor for operating the fan when the car is motionless.

An additional object is to provide an apparatus of this character of simple and practical construction, which may be installed in operative position on the car without necessitating any changes or alterations in the construction thereof, which is eflicient and reliable in performance. relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in, which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectionalview through a refrigerator car showing the air circulating attachment mounted in position thereon.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view. Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the friction drive wheel and supporting bracket therefor.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view thereof. Figure 5 is a plan View for one of the clamping members for the bracket, and

Figure 6 is an edge elevational view thereof. Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a refrigerator car which includes an ice bunker 6 and storage compartment 1 separated by a vertical transversely extending partition 8. ,The partition is provided with \ventilating openings 9 and I0 in the top and bottom portions respectively, thereof.

Secured to the bolster l l' of the wheel trucks I2 is a, bracket member indicated generally at 13 and which includes a plate l4 positioned verward one of the wheels 22 of the truck to prevent (c1. ss-s) v tically at one side of the bolster and a plate It positioned at the opposite side of the bolster, each of the plates having openings l8 therein for receiving bolts I1 extending crosswise at the top and bottom of the bolster for clamping the plates 5 in position thereto. The inner face of the plate !4 is provided with a horizontally extending lug l8 and the inner face of the plate I5 is provided with a horizontally extending lug l9 adapted to ov,erlie and rest upon the upper surface of the bolster to support the plates in position thereon. Likewise the plate 14 is formed with a lateral extension 20 and the plate I5 is formed with a lateral extension 2| extending in a direction tolateral shifting movement of the plates in onedirection, the inclined lower surface .of the bolster, as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings preventing lateral shifting movement of the plates in the opposite direction.

The plate 14 of the bracket I 3, has at its upper portion an upwardly extending arm 23 having a transversely extending bore 24 through which a bolt 25 is inserted for pivotally supporting a pair of spaced cars 26 formed on the supporting extension 21 of a gear housing 28.

The ends of the arm 23, outwardly of the bolt 25, are provided with a pair of diverging lugs 29. and 30 between which the extension 21 is swingably positioned, the lugs constituting stops limiting opposite swinging movement ,of said extension, as will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 3 of the drawings. The extension 21 normally gravitates and rests upon the stop 29 and a dog 3| is pivoted as at 32 to the lug 30 for engagement with a recess 33 carried by the extension for securing the latter in a raised position.

Journaled in and'extending transversely of the housing 28 is a. shaft 34 having one end provided with a friction wheel 35 positioned in engagement with the wheel 22 of the car when the extension 21 is in its lower position, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the shaft 34 having a gear 35 positioned in the housing for driving a gear 36 on one end of a flexible shaft 31, said flexible shaft extending to a fan blade 38 mounted in a bracket 39 secured to the partition 8 adjacent the upper ventilating opening 9 thereof.

The shaft 34 is also provided with an extension 40 having a bayonet slot socket 4| in its extremity for connection with a. flexible shaft 42 driven by an electric motor 43 or other drive mechanism attached to a bracket 44 of one of the beams 45 of the car, as shown by the dotted I line in Figure 2 of the drawings, whereby to operate the fan independently of the friction drive wheel 35.

In the operation of the device it will be apparent that with the friction wheel 35 in driving engagement with the wheel 22 that the fan will be operated when the car is moving to circulate air from the ice bunker 6 to the storage compartment 1.

When the car is idle the friction wheel 35 may ing a, fan mounted in the car, a bracket secured to a part of the car adjacent a-wheel thereof, said bracket having a bearing therein, a pivot member supported by the bearing and said bracket having flaring prongs thereon, the space between said prongs extending to the pivot member, a gear housing, an arm extending therefrom, said arm passing through the space between the prongs and pivotally connected with the bracket by said'pivot member, said arm normally resting on the lower prong under the action of gravity,

latch means carried by the bracket and engaging a part of the arm for holding the arm in raised position adjacent the upper prong, a first shaft journaled in the housing and passing therethrough, a friction wheel carried by the shaft for engaging a car wheel when the arm is adjacent the lower prong, a second shaft arranged at right angles to the first shaft and journaled in the housing, gears connecting the two shafts together, a flexible shaft connected with the second shaft and leading to the fan.

WILLIAM A. CONWELL. 

